John Wesley Harding (b. 22 October 1965) is a folk/pop singer-songwriter wh… Read Full Bio ↴John Wesley Harding (b. 22 October 1965) is a folk/pop singer-songwriter who has called his style of music "folk noir" and "gangsta folk".
He was born Wesley Stace in Hastings, East Sussex, England. His given name, Wesley, comes from John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, who preached one of his last sermons in the town where Harding was born.
His stage name may be seen as an almost inevitable nickname for a folk-pop musician, in that his first name overlaps with the Bob Dylan album (and song) "John Wesley Harding". The American gunfighting historical figure John Wesley Hardin was largely forgotten before 1965, when Johnny Cash wrote and recorded the song "Hardin Wouldn't Run".
His education included the boarding schools St. Andrews School (Pangbourne, Berkshire); Milbourne Lodge (Claygate, Surrey); The King's School (Canterbury, Kent); and university at Jesus College, Cambridge. He left Cambridge with a First in English Literature, but left before completing his Ph.d. in Social and Political Science.
Musical influences include Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Ray Davies, and Phil Ochs. He has been frequently compared to Elvis Costello probably fueled, in part, by the fact that two members of his early band The Good Liars (Pete and Bruce Thomas) had been members of The Attractions. Harding was chosen by Bruce Springsteen as his first opening act in 20 years for his solo shows at the Berkeley Community Theatre in 1995. Harding
He was born Wesley Stace in Hastings, East Sussex, England. His given name, Wesley, comes from John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, who preached one of his last sermons in the town where Harding was born.
His stage name may be seen as an almost inevitable nickname for a folk-pop musician, in that his first name overlaps with the Bob Dylan album (and song) "John Wesley Harding". The American gunfighting historical figure John Wesley Hardin was largely forgotten before 1965, when Johnny Cash wrote and recorded the song "Hardin Wouldn't Run".
His education included the boarding schools St. Andrews School (Pangbourne, Berkshire); Milbourne Lodge (Claygate, Surrey); The King's School (Canterbury, Kent); and university at Jesus College, Cambridge. He left Cambridge with a First in English Literature, but left before completing his Ph.d. in Social and Political Science.
Musical influences include Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Ray Davies, and Phil Ochs. He has been frequently compared to Elvis Costello probably fueled, in part, by the fact that two members of his early band The Good Liars (Pete and Bruce Thomas) had been members of The Attractions. Harding was chosen by Bruce Springsteen as his first opening act in 20 years for his solo shows at the Berkeley Community Theatre in 1995. Harding
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Here Comes the Groom
John Wesley Harding Lyrics
Affairs of the Heart I took a deep breath and I just stood there…
An Audience with You Your footman barred me from the door Said I couldn't see…
Bastard Son Bob Dylan is my father, Joan Baez is my mother And…
Cathy's New Clown Sometimes when you get mystic I have to leave the room Ano…
Dark Dark Heart In an office two miles underground They can't tell night fr…
Here Comes the Groom With half an eye on history And half an ounce of…
Nothing I'd Rather Do There's nothing that's better at all That's better than the…
Same Thing Twice He's done it all a million times The gags, the repartee,…
Scared of Guns Well, the power of the bullet is fascinating They're polish…
Spaced Cowgirl Well you can dance on tv with your diamonds on Sing…
The Devil in Me I shot John F. Kennedy in Dallas in '63 They blamed…
The Red Rose And The Briar Midweek and we reached scarlet town I was almost dying of…
Things Snowball You might remember this conversation when you get older You…
When the Sun Comes Out It's been raining for a million years And the weather just…
You're No Good How can you be so dark and disgusting When she's all…